Tangled Web UK Review June 2007
A Load of Old Bones: An Unfortunate Murder by
Suzette A. Hil
hbk out June 07
Published by Constable Robinson
at £18.99
An odd, but entertaining book, a whimsical 'cosy' written in the first
person – or rather three first persons, to whit, a cat, a dog and a vicar!
Different chapters are allotted to each as raconteurs. Maurice is an
intelligent but supercilious moggie, Bouncer an amiable but rather thick
dog and the parson is the Rev. Francis Ougtherard, a somewhat
ineffectual cleric who chose the Church as a soft option after being
demobbed following the war, the story taking place in 1957 Surrey.
Bouncer belongs to an aggressive bank manager Bowler, who fancies a
parish widow Elizabeth Fotheringay, who owns the cat. However, the
widow sets her cap at the vicar and pesters him so effectively that one day
he snaps and strangles her, leaving her body under a bush. Bowler
absconds with his bank's money and the two animals are left without
support. They move in on the Reverend and decide to preserve their
cushy billet by protecting him from detection.
The plot could be written on the back of a postcard, but it is an amiable
little yarn, its main attraction being the excellent writing, a rare template
for how the English language should be used – which is not surprising, as
the author taught Eng. Lit. for many years.
B
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
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